British National Pursuit Championship
Aug-2000

TRUE champions respond to a challenge, and Rob Hayles (Athletes 1-Pinarello) recovered from the shock of being caught by Paul Manning in the qualifying round to put the record straight as he clinched his fourth successive title with a personal best.

Hayles was fully focused for the 16-lap final and, leading Manning (unattached) by half a second after the opening lap, he was never headed.

Producing the fastest opening kilometre of the competition (109.160), he was over one and a half seconds up and his splits of 1-03.958, 1-04.725 and 1-05.851 brought him home in 4-23.704.

Manning, who had qualified in 4-22.013 to take Graeme Obree's championship record, pulled back half a second in the closing four laps to finish in 4-26.097.

"That was a great ride by Rob," said Manning. "He just stayed out there and didn't come back at all. I was concentrating on keeping on top of my schedule and couldn't lift it.

"It's awesome for the team pursuit - we're all close together and riding quickly."

The bronze went to Bradley Wiggins (SG Bollington), who followed up his opening kilometre (1-10.356) with even splits of 1-05.008, 1-05.491 and 1-04.861 to lower his qualifying time by almost two seconds to 4-25.716 for a four-second margin over Chris Newton (Middridge CRT).

A number of riders made improvements, led by Michael Pooley (Musselburgh RCC), Tim Buckle (Paul Moy Associates) and Ben Elliott (VC St Raphael).

2nd round.- Group B
Clough (ABC Centreville) 5-01.496 r/o v Hallam (GS Strada)
Holt (unatt) 4-51.610 bt Benham (Scunthorpe Poly CC) 5-04.622
Birch (VC St Raphael) 4-49.640 bt Russell (VC St Raphael) 4-53.071
Notley (Stonefield Cycles RT) 4-44.795 bt Jones (Clarkes Contracts) 4-52.100.

Quarter-finals
Hayles (Athletes 1) 4-24.711 ct Clay (SLBM) in 4-00.815
Newton (Middridge CRT) 4-28.431 ct Buckle (Paul Moy Associates) in 2-56.941
Wiggins (SG Bollington) 4-28.659 ct Pooley (Musselburgh RCC) in 4-05.605
Manning (unatt) 4-25.404 ct Elliott (VC St Raphael) in 1-48.704

Minor placings
5, Pooley
6, Buckle
7, Notley
8, EIliott
9, Birch
10, Holt
11, Jones
12, Russell
13, Clay
14, Clough
15, Benham
16, Hallam.

3/4 Final

Bradley Wiggins (SG Bollington) 4-25.716 bt Chris Newton 4-29.761.

1/2 Final

Rob Hayles (Athletes 1Pinarello) 4-23.704 bt Paul Manning (unatt) 4-26.097.


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